Flexible pocket receptacle



g NW. 1949 D. J. BROUGHTON 2,489,364

/' FLEXIBLE POCKET RECEPTACLE Filed June 11; 1945 5 Shee'ts-Sheet 1ATTORNEYS Nov. 29, 1949 DJ. BROUGHTON FLEXIBLE POCKET RECEPTACLE 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 11, 1945 l N V E N To R Java/4s [flaw/mm MATTORNEYS Nov. 29, 1949 D. J. BROUGHTON FLEXIBLE POCKET RECEPTACLE 5.Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 11, 1945 INVENTOR *K ATTOR YS NOV. 29, 1949BRQUGHTQN 2,489,364

FLEXIBLE POCKET RECEPTACLE I Filed June 11, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR A TORNEYS Nov. 29, 1949 D. J. BROUGHTON FLEXIBLE POCKETRECEPTACLE 5 Shee'ts-Sheet 5 Filed June 11. 1945 Emu, ma m 6 m JPatented Nov. 29, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLEXIBLE POCKETRECEPTACLE Douglas J. Broughton, Springfield, Mass., assignor to Buxton,Incorporated, Springfield, Mass.,

a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 11, 1945, Serial No.598,835

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improved construction for flexible pocketreceptacles such as billfolds.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an arrangement bywhich the various parts and elements making up the receptacle are lockedtogether in an improved manner and, if desired without the aid ofstitching;

A further object is to provide such a locking means which at the sametime will provide closure elements for the receptacle as a whole or forindividual compartments of the receptacle or for both. i

'A further object is to provide a locking means of the above characterwhich shall have a general application'in a wide range of billfoldconstructions;

Other and further objects and advantages residing in details of theconstruction will be made apparent in the following specification andclaims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention embodied inbillfold constructions:

Fig. 1 is a generally perspective view of a billfold, in open position,constructed according to my invention, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a formed'blank from which the'billfold ofFigure 1 is folded up;

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are views, similar to Fig. 2, showing successivefolding steps;

Fig. 6 is side edge view showing the billfold closed;

Figs. '7 and 8 show alternative ways of incorporating the bridgingmember in the billfold;

Fig.9 is a generally perspective view, parts being broken away, showingthe interlock arranged to provide a plurality of closures;

Fig. 10 is a generally perspective View showing a modified form of theinterlock;

Fig. 11 is a side edge view of an alternative arrangement for closingthe billfold;

Fig. 12 is a generally perspective'view showing a modified constructionin which the interlock is employed atone end of the billfold to provideboth means for closing and holding a removable pass case in thebillfold, and to close th billfold, the other end of the billfold beingconstructed in a'conventional manner;

Fig. 13 is-a similar view showing the closure flap forthe passv casecarried by the pass case itself;-

Figs. 14,-15; and 16 'are fragmentary views showing a different locationof the front wall locking tongue; and

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view showing a modifled relative arrangement ofill? loqking tongues.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, the receptacle is shown ascomprising a rear wall I, spaced front wall panels 2 and 3 extendingfrom the bottom edge of the rear wall, flap members 4 and 5 extendingres ectively from the edges of panels 2 and 3 opposite the edges of thelatter which are connected to the rear wall. inner wall members 6 and 1extending from the ends of rear wall I and inner wall members 8 and 9extending respectively from the outer ends of panels 2 and 3. As shownin these figures a bridging member ID is constituted by the inner wallmember 6 with a further extended portion ll. As later pointed out thebridging member may if desired be formed as part of a separate member.It will also be understood that while the various other members formingthe blank are shown as integrally connected, and such integralconnection is preferred, the element-s may be stitched together along oradjacent the fold lines or otherwise connected as found desirable.

The rear wall I is provided with tongues I2 and I 3 extending from theends thereof. Preferably and as shown these tongues are cut from theadjacent wall members 6 and I so that when the members 6 and 1 arefolded onto the rear wall as shown in Fig. 3 the tongues l2 and I3 formintegral extensions of the rear wall leaving openings l4 and I5respectively in the folded end ed es adjacent the bases of the tongues.

In accordance with usual practice tabs 16 and I! may be formed alongthev upper and lower edges of the rear wall I which are folded over andcemented to the rear wall to finish the exposed edges in a conventionalmanner. Similarly tabs l8 are provided along the too and bottom edges ofthe bridging member H] which. when folded and cemented against the backof the bridging member as shown in Fig. '3, finish the edges of thebridging member exposed between the panels 2 and 3.

The flap members 4 and 5 are res ectively provided at their end edgeswith tongues l9 and 20.

In the form shown in Fi s. 1 to 5 the tongues l9 and 20 correspond insize and shape to tongues l2 and i3.

As shown in the figures under discussion wall member 8 is provided withan integral extension 2] which as subsequently described may form thecover of a pass case. In the various figures fold lines are indicated bydot and dash lines.

At any convenient step in the manufacturing operation, but preferablywhile the blank is flat as shown in Fig. 2, the rear wall I and member2| are provided with one member of a snap fastener as at 22 and 23respectively, preferably in each case a post member, the post extendingoutwardly from the under-side of the blank as viewed in Fig. 2.

The free end of the member I is provided with a tab 24 adapted to make asliding engagement in a slot 25 in flap as later described.

Panel 2 is shown formed with a window opening 29 covered by atransparent window" 2! cemented along its edges to the panel. Panel 3 isshown cut away as at 28 to expose the edges of the intermediate wallmembers I and 9 when the billfold is completed as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 3, after member 5 with its extension I|, togetherconstituting bridging member ID, have been folded over onto the rearwall member 7 is similarly folded onto the rear wall to overlap theadjacent end of the member Member 9 is folded over onto panel 3. Member8 is folded onto panel 2 and its extension 2| is carried around andfolded beneath panel 2. Prior to this last folding operation, or at someother convenient time, the extension 2! is folded in reverse manneralong the fold lines 29 and, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 6, a pluralityof trans parent pass card elements 39 are secured to the so formed foldby a spiral wire binding member 3|, or the like.

The next step in the folding operation is shown in Fig. 4. Panels 2 and3 together with their associated parts 8, 9, and 2| are folded upwardlyonto the rear wall I and the members 6 and l with flaps 4 and 5extending upwardly. Flaps and 5 are then folded downwardly over the wallmembers 6, 1, into the bill compartment, and the flaps I9 and 2|]respectively are inserted through openings l4 and I5 at the bases offlaps I2 and |3 through which openings they extend into overlyingrelation with flaps I2 and H5 as shown in Fig. 5', thus locking thevarious members together in billfold formation. As flap 5 is folded intothe bill compartment,'tab 24 of the member It is inserted through slit25 in flap 5. The tongues l2 and I9 may be cemented or otherwise securedtogether to form a unitary tongue which is provided with a snap fastenersocket member 32 riveting the parts together and positioned to engagestud 29 on the cover member 2i of the pass case to releasably hold thelatter closed. Tongues l3 and 25 may be similarly secured together bycement and by a snap fastener socket member 33 positioned to engage postmember 22 on the outer face of rear wall I to hold the billfold closedas shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that in the completed structureabove described the billfold is provided with a bill compartment 34, aside pocket 35 between wall member I, and bridging member ID, a sidepocket 39, between wall member 9 and panel 3 and an intermediate,open-ended pocket 37 between wall members and '9, the outer end of thelatter pocket being substantially closed by tongue |3-29 when thebillfold is closed as shown in Fig. 6. A window pocket 38 is also formedbetween panel 2 and wall member 8 and a second intermediate, open-endedpocket 39 is formed between wall members 6 and 8 which pocket issubstantially closed at its outer end by tongue |2|9 when the latter isfastened to the cover 2| of the pass case. The closure of the outer endsof the intermediate pockets by the tongues while not complete issufficient to prevent escape of cards and the like therefrom. Theopen-ended character of pockets 3'! and 39, which are aligned when thebillfold is opened flat, has the further advantage that long foldedpapers such as. fur- 4 lough papers, letters and the like can be easilythreaded from either end of the billfold through one pocket, across infront of the bridging member and into the other aligned pocket.

As previously mentioned the bridging member In may be formed as part ofa separate piece as shown for example at 49 in Fig. '7. As shown in thisfigure the member 4|] is formed with tabs 4| on its upper edge adjacentits ends. These tabs engage through slots 42 formed in flaps 3 and 5 aspreviously described in connection with tab '24 and slot 25, and as inthe case of tab 24 and slot 25 the slots are sufficiently longer thanthe width of the tabs to permit the bridging member to adjust itsposition as the billfold is opened and closed.

One advantage of the construction shown in Fig. '7 is that wall members5 and 7, when folded over onto the bridging member 40 both provided sidepockets between them and the bridging mem ber when the blank is foldedup as previously described.

Another advantage in forming the bridging member as part of a separatepiece is that the overall dimensions of the piece of leather or similarmaterial from which the main blank is cut, is thereby reduced which insome cases permits a more economical use of material. This advantage canbe enlarged upon by omitting cover member 2| as an integral extension ofwall mem ber 8, and instead, as shown in Fig. '7, providing the free endof member 8 with a reinforcing strip of plastic as indicated at 43 towhich the transparent pass envelopes together with a separate coverpiece 44, indicated in dotted lines, may be connected as by the wirebinding previously de scribed. This has the added advantage thatdifferent colored leather, or a stiffer leather, be used for the passcase cover.

In Fig. 8 is shown an alternative manner of connecting a separatebridging member in place. As there shown the bridging member |fi is partof a separate piece 45, provided on its ends with generally T shapedtabs 46 which may be engaged, as shown, in the openings left in members6 and 1 when tongues l2 and I3 are formed. In this construction members6 and I may be shortened as shown, since they do not form side pockets.It will be understood that the ends of the member 45 may be variouslyconnected to the wall members 6 and In the forms so far described thetongues H3 and 29 have respectively been secured to the ad- J'acenttongues l2 and I3 to provide a single releasable closure member at eachend of the billfold. One or both pairs of tongues may however be leftseparate to form additional closure members. As shown in Fig. 9 bothpairs of tongues are left separate to provide four independent closuremembers. Tongue l9 is there shown as shortened and its end formed as att? to interlock in a slot 48 formed in the fold which connects member 8and panel 2, to thereby permanently substantially close the outer end ofopenended pocket 39. The outer end of tongue i2 is here formed asindicated at 49 to interlock beneath a strap 59 provided on the face ofthe pass case cover 2| to releasably hold the pass case closed. Tongue20 is provided with one member of a snap fastener 5|, the other memberof which is carried by a closure member 52 extending from the free endof wall member 9 and forming a closure for the pocket between member 9and panel 3. Tongue i3 carries the fastener member 33 which aspreviously described is engageabie 'in the fold connecting panel 2 andwall member 3. If desired tongue 26 at'the other end may I be similarlyemployed as indicated at :55 to permanently close the open-'endedpo'cketat that end of the billfold while its companion tongue I3 is providedwith the fastener member 33 .which as previously described is engageablewitha com-- plementary member on the rear wall I to hold the billfoldclosed.

In relatively thin billiolds of the type shown in Fig. 10, vmyimprovement makes; it' possible to somewhat enhance the thinness of thebillfold when closed, and yet provide means for holding it closed, byemploying the tongue-arrangement shown in Fig. 11 where tongues 19' and20 are used to permanently close the outer ends of the open-endedpockets, in the manner above de'-' scribed, while tongues 12 and Barerespective ly provided with cooperating snap fastener elements 56 and 51which when engaged hold the billfold closed without adding'to'itsthickness; It will be understoodthat this'form' of closure is notnecessarily limited to a :thin type of bill-' fold.

As will be apparent from the several embodiments of my invention abovedescribed my invention makes possible a wide range of billfolds havingvarious capacities to meet various needs. Many other advantageousapplications of themvention will be apparent to those skilled in theart.

It will also be understood that the invention may be combine'd withconventional structures, and to secure specific and limitedadvantages.For example, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 where the right hand end panelmember of the front wall of the billfold is shown in theform of a purseas generally indicated at 58 while the other end is constructedaccording to the'presentin vention to secure the advantageousjlocking ofthe parts at that end as "well as to provide a closure strap for thebillfold; the open-ended pocket being shown asem'ployed to receive onecover 59 of a separable pass ca'se, releasably held to the billfold bythe locking tongue I 9, as shown in Fig. 12, or provided with itsown'holding' flap and tongue 61! as shown in Fig. 13. As shown in Fig.12 the body of tongue I9 is preferably made wider than tongue l2 andtherefore wider than the opening through which it passes to permitinterlocking with the opening atthe base of tongue l2 as later describedand shown' in Fig.

It is not essential that the flaps 4 and 5, from which the front walltongues project, be carried by any particular wall member of .the frontwall assembly. In the forms above described these flaps and tongues arecarried by the panel mem-' bers 2 and 3. The flaps 4 or 5'with theirlocking tongues may be carried by any suitable front wall element togive a desired capacity to the billfold, consistent with the tongueperforming" inner wall member, and a tongue extending frommember 9 topermit panel 3 to provide a pocket open at its top and one side. Whenmember 9 is folded over onto panel 3 (as shown in Fig. 15) panel 3, wall9 and flap 5 may be folded upwardly and flap 5 folded downwardly intothe billfold with tongue 20 extending through the opening l5 (Fig. 16),to lock the parts together, as previously described. Panel 3 thusprovides a pocket 6| open at its top and side. As shown, the upper edgeof the pocket may be provided with'a lock flap 62 for releasablysecuring a purse (not shown) in the pocket, in the manner shown inBuxton Patent 2,319,110. I

-Neither the "specific shapes nor the relative sizes of the parts shownare deemed essential features of the invention. The size and shape ofthe several tongues may differ from each other. The adjacent tonguesneed not overlie each other, although such arrangement is pre- 20' 1separate opening may be formed in the folded thereby increase thelocking action. This is pre ferred in any case where as for example inFigi 12 the tongue carried by the front wall member is used alone as areleasable closure member. Where the tongues overlie each other and aresecured together, as by the application of one member of a snapfastener(Fig. 3), 'or the'end'of the front wall tongue is permanently locked inthe front wall structure as in Fig. 10 the shoulders 65 may be omitted.

It will be understood that for purposes of clearness the relativethickness of the parts has been exaggerated and that the drawings arenot to scale. Also, that, where desirable, parts of the leather may beskived to decrease their thickness in accordance with the best practice,al-f though such skiving is not shown in the drawings. I

I. claim: 1. In a'flexible pocket receptacle; a rear wall, an inner wallmember extending from an end of the rear wall and folded thereon, and afront, wall, said walls, defining a bill compartment,

'* said front wall including a wall member connected to the rear wallalong its lower edge and having a flap folded downwardly into the billcompartment between said rear wall and'said the outer end of'said flap,the bill compartment being provided with an opening at an end of itsrear wall through which said tongueextends outwardly of the receptacle.V

2. In a flexible pocket receptacle, a rear wall, an inner wall memberextending from an end of the rear wall and folded thereon, and a frontwe. said walls defining a bill compartment, said front wall includin apanel member extending from the lower edge of the rear wall and foldedupwardiy over the rear wall, a second inner wall member extending fromthe outer end of the panel member, said last two members being folded insuperposed relation over the rear wall, a flap extending from the upperedge of one of said last named members and folded downwardly into the'bi-l-l .pempartment, 'a tongue extending fromthe outer end of said flap,and the bill compartment-being provided with an opening at an end of itsrear wall through which said tongue extends outwardly of the receptacleand means preventing substantial movement of the tongue in wardly of theopening.

3. In a flexible pocket receptacle, a rear wall, an inner wall memberextending from an end of the rear wall and folded thereon, and a frontwall, said walls defining a bill compartment, a tongue cut from saidinner wall member and extending outwardly from the end of the rear wall,the cut by which the tongue was formed providing an opening, at an endof the rear wall, from the bill compartment to the outside of thereceptacle, said front wall including a wall member connected to therear wall along its bottom edge and having a flap folded downwardly intothe bill compartment between said rear Wall and said inner wall member,a tongue extending from the outer end of said flap outwardly throughsaid opening and means preventing substantial movement of the last namedtongue inwardly of the opening,

4. In a flexible pocket receptacle, a rear wall, an inner wall memberextending from an of the rear wall and folded thereon, and a front wall,said walls defining a bill compartment, a tongue out from said innerwall member and extending outwardly from the end of the rear wall, thecut by which the tongue was formed provid' ing an opening, at an end ofthe rear wall, from the bill compartment to the outside of thereceptacle, said front wall including a panel member extending from thelower edge of the rear wall and having a flap folded downwardly into thebill compartment between the rear wall and said inner wall member, atongue extending from the outer end of said flap outwardly through saidopening, a second inner wall member extending from the outer edge of thepanel member and folded between the panel and the first mentioned innerwall member and having an extending portion folded over onto the outerface of the panel and means for connecting at least one of said tonguesto the outer face of said extending portion.

5. In a flexible pocket receptacle a rear wall, an inner wall memberextending from an end of the rear wall and folded thereon, and a frontwall, said walls defining a bill compartment, said front wall includinga panel member extending from the lower edge of the rear wall and havinga flap folded downwardly into the bill compartment between said rearwall and said inner wall member, a tongue extending from the outer endof said flap, the bill compartment being. provided with an opening at anend of the rear wall through which said'tongue extends, outwardly of thereceptacle, a second inner wall member extending from the outer end ofthe panel member and folded between the panel and the first mentionedinner wall member, a multiple pass case hinged to the free end of saidsecond inner wall member and folded over onto the outer face of thepanel and means for connecting said tongue to the outer face of the passcase.

6. In a flexible pocket receptacle, a rear wall, an inner wall memberextending from an end of the rear wall and folded thereon, and a frontwall, said walls defining a bill compartment, a tongue out from saidinner wall member and extending outwardly from the end of the rear wall,the out by which the tongue was formed providins. an openingatan endoftherearwall, from the bill compartment to the outside of'th'ereceptacle, said front wall including a wall member having a flap foldeddownwardly into the bill compartment between said rear wall and saidinner wall member, a tongue extending from the outer end of said flapoutwardly through said opening, a snap fastener member riveting saidtongues together outwardly of said opening and a second snap fastenermember carried by the V exposed face of the rear wall and cooperatingwith the fastener element carried by the tongues to hold the receptacleclosed.

7. In a flexible pocket receptacle, a rear wall, an inner wall memberextending from an end of the rear wall and folded thereon, and a frontwall, said walls defining a bill compartment, said front wall includingspaced panel members at least one of said panel members extending fromthe lower edge of the rear wall and folded upwardly over the rear walland the inner wall member, said last mentioned panel member having aflap extending from its upper edge and folded downwardly into the billcompartment between said rear wall and said inner wall member, a tongueextending from the outer end of said flap, the bill compartment beingprovided with an opening at an end of the rear wall through which saidtongue extends outwardly of the receptacle, and means preventingsubstantial movement of the tongue inwardly of the opening, said innerwall member having a bridging portion extending across the spaceseparating the panel members.

'8. In a'fiexible pocket receptacle, a rear wall, inner wall membersextending from the ends of the rear wall and folded thereon, and a frontwall, said walls defining a bill compartment, said front wall includinga pair of spaced panel members extending from the lower edge of the rearwall and folded upwardly over the rear wall, a flap extending from theupper edge of each panel member and folded downwardly into the billcompartment between the rear wall and the adjacent inner wall member,means for locking said flaps in the bill compartment and a bridgingmember spanning the space between the panel members and having its endsrespectively loosely interlocked to the inner end portions of theadjacent inner wall member.

9. In a flexible pocket receptacle a rear wall, an inner wall memberextending from an end of the rear wall and folded thereon, and a frontwall, said walls defining a bill compartment, said front wall includingspaced panel members extending from the lower edge of the rear wall, asecond inner wall member extending from the outer end of a panel memberand folded inwardly between the panel member and the first inner wallmember, a flap extending from the upper edge of said panel member andfolded dewn-- wardly into the bill compartment between the rear wall andthe first-mentioned inner wall member, means securing said flap in thebill compartment, said second wall member forming with the panel membera pocket closed at its outer end and forming with the first-mentionedinner wall member a second pocket open at both ends, and a memberbridging the space between the panel members and having an end looselyinterlocked to said first-mentioned inner wall member.

DOUGLAS J. BROUGHTON.

(References on following page) 9 REFERENCES CITED Number;

1,964,460 Gardner June 26, 1934 10 Name Date Sherwood July 28, 1942 RenzJan. 9, 1945 Sherwood Nov. 6, 1945 Broughton Nov. 4, 1947 Broughton Dec.16, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain July 5, 1923 GreatBritain May 9, 1940

